Monument record TQ 75 SE 128 - Mid Iron Age to Early Roman Settlement at Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone

Summary

Mid Iron Age to Early Roman (not later than 2nd century AD) settlement. The principle finds from the settlement were postholes, pits and a group of ditches. The postholes included two four-post structures. Finds recovered consisted of pottery, animal bone, possible metalworking slag and charred plant remains.

Location

Grid reference TQ 77710 52669 (point)
Map sheet TQ75SE
District MAIDSTONE, KENT
Civil Parish MAIDSTONE, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Map

Type and Period (6)

Full Description

The most important feature is the larger ditch towards the west of the site. This produced 88 artefacts from a middle fill. This must represent domestic rubbish, perhaps from a nearby settlement area. The ditch appears to have a terminal end, although it is possible that this feature was an elongated pit. The apparent absence of imported wares and Roman fabrics suggests a date in the decades before the conquest in AD 43. The small post-hole nearby and the smaller ditches may be indicative and relate to such a settlement. The extent and form of the suggested settlement are unknown but it is most likely to be a small farmstead of limited extent(1).

During this evaluation part of a Roman ditch was found to the south east (See TQ 75 SE 127).

In 1999 excavation by the Oxford Archaeological Unit uncovered further evidence of Middle Iron Age to Early Roman activity. Iron Age, Mid to Late, activity was widespread across the site. To the east a few post-holes/pits were found containing Middle Iron Age Pottery two of which contained moderate amounts of charcoal. There was more evidence of the ditch picked up on the KARU 1998 evaluation which may have been recut. It terminated just south of the KARU trench line were it curved slightly. A possible south westward continuation of this may be represented by a less regular feature to the south.

To the west further pits, post-holes and features were found. The pits and a possible heath produced a few fragments of iron slag. To the south of these two possible four post structures were found represented by two rows of four postholes each roughly aligned east-west. The dating of these features is not secure and the only datable find was a small sherd of later Iron Age date. However the report notes that these postholes were close to a concerntration of Roman features but the absence of Roman pottery from these postholes is probably significant.

Pottery found from the Iron Age was of three types, flint, glauconite and grog tempered. Vessel forms, principally jars, were simple and mostly of everted rim type. Some Iron slag was found along with unidentifiable animal bones.

Identifed Roman features were found concentrated in the west of the excavation site. These were of pits and a possible shallow gully. Finds form Roman features included a number of pottery sherds of Samian, amphora, white slip and other coarse wares. Fine "Upchurch " type grey wares were also present as well as more probable Canterbury products. None were dated later than the 2nd century AD. Possible metalworking slag was also found as well as animal bone (unidentifiable and cattle). (2)


Monograph based on above 1999 excavations. Four phases identified. Phase 1 consisted of the residual Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork. Phase 2 consisted of Ironage pottery and features. Phase 3 consisted of Roman features and pottery and it seems that activity ceased around the mid C2nd AD. Evidence for phase 4, the modern (C19th) period, is restricted to the Eastern part of the site and consists of pottery and clay pipes found in ditches (itches are probably continuous). Later Ironwork found and a sheep's skeleton (c.1 year old) were also found, (the sheep's skeleton was in a pit) and both were dated to the modern period. Residual Iron Age pottery, flint and C19th glass also found at the extreme Western edge.

Two groups of 4 postholes in the 'Western zone' typical of Iron Age occupation, but finds (single fragment of pottery and a nail) from the second structure suggest it belongs to phase 3 (the Roman period).

Late Iron Age pottery found elswhere in the 'Western zone'. The Eastern zone also contained some Iron Age pottery and carbonised peas, beans and grain in a pit. Burnt flint also found.

Total of 1,039 pottery sherds found on site mostly date to either the Iron Age (mid or late) and Roman (C1st-2nd). Some 'intrusive' pottery finds - single C3rd fragment and several post medieval sherds. Most (42%) of the pottery was recovered from Roman period contexts and the bulk of this was from the second half of the first century AD.

Cereal grain, chaff and weed seeds also found. One sample contained c.2000 pulses of which 439 were peas, but cabbage, turnip and mustard seeds were also found among this sample. Found in fill and pit (possible hearth) from phase 2. Cereal remains (including emmer and spelt wheat, barley and oats) from phases 2 and 3. (3)


<1> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 1998, Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone, Kent Report on an Evaluation Excavation for Wimpey Homes Holdings (Unpublished document). SKE7385.

<2> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone: Post Excavation Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SKE7979.

<3> Oxford Archaeology, 2004, Prehistoric and Romano-British settlement at Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone. (Monograph). SKE13696.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Unpublished document: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. 1998. Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone, Kent Report on an Evaluation Excavation for Wimpey Homes Holdings.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. 2001. Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone: Post Excavation Assessment Report.
  • <3> Monograph: Oxford Archaeology. 2004. Prehistoric and Romano-British settlement at Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone..

Finds (4)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: Evaluation at Queen Elizabeth Square (EKE5448)
  • Intrusive Event: Excavation at Queen Elizabeth Square, Maidstone (EKE5849)

Record last edited

Jan 21 2009 12:05PM